Great reflections & recollections

Favorite thing:
Looking back on our trip I really liked Calgary - maybe because of the great excitement and anticipation of the Stampede by the many visitors but I think for us it was a special place because of its open friendly welcome and all the fun to be had down town===Ye Ha!!

Fondest memory:
I enjoyed sharing Calgary with the many tourists from across the world and the locals alike.I will miss seeing such a mix of people walking in the streets especially the ones in suit and ties who smiled broadly and said "Hi Guys How ya doin?"

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Family Travel

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They saved the best till last!!

Favorite thing:
If you do find yourself in Calgary during the Stampede - check out the parade it really was marvelous to be part of.To hear the cheers and applause and to watch the childrens' faces as they shrieked "Gee Mommy why are the men wearing skirts?" Truely a highlight and the sunny weather made it just perfect.

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Family Travel

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Simply Marble-ous

Favorite thing:
If you’re downtown and make it to the Eau Claire Market or Prince’s Island, there is an art composition worth viewing. The An Auspicious Find is made up of four panels containing a total of ~15,000 glass marbles. The pictures on the panels are not overly sophisticated, but their reflected light is striking none-the-less. I felt compelled to touch the marbles, and amazingly, they can spin between the two sheets of metal that hold them upright.

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Arts and Culture

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A noon hour walk

Favorite thing:
Although the Bow river isn’t very wide, it does contain islands. Two of the most popular are St. Georges Island, which is the home for the zoo, and Prince’s Island, which is conveniently located downtown. Almost every weekend during the summer, some event will be taking place on or near Prince’s Island. At noon during the summer it’s a popular spot for office workers from the nearby downtown core to go for a walk. On weekend’s, the pathways channel feet, blades, and wheels beside and across the island.

Address: 3rd Street West at the Bow River, Near the Eau Claire Market.

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Hiking and Walking

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A Party where we invited the World

Favorite thing:
In 1988, Calgary put on a party and invited the world. For a couple of weeks in February1988, the winter Olympians competed and their victories were often celebrated at the Olympic Plaza . These days, it’s the future Olympians that make use of the plaza: young children use the flooded plaza as a wading pool in the summer and a skating rink in the winter.

Address: 228 - 8th Avenue SE

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Family Travel

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When in doubt, head downtown

Favorite thing:
We were unsure where to begin, so we drove around till we decided to stop at a tourist information center at Eau Claire Market. We never did find it, but it turned out Eau Claire was not a bad place to start. It's similar to an American mall, with typical shops, restaurants, food stalls, an IMAX theater, outdoor swimming pools, the usual assortment of characters. It's a good place to relax and recharge the empty stomach that you endure on the long drive here, a problem compounded by the traffic snarls around downtown. It's only a few blocks walk to downtown. Practically next door is the Chinese Cultural Center.

Trolley cars and highrises

Favorite thing:
With its proximity to the Rockies, Calgary is a blend of grand natural wonders and sophiscated urban life. Here in downtown you'll see many highrises and trolley cars (actually the train goes beyond downtown). After days in the wild, I felt like a city folk again when I arrived Calgary.

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Architecture

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8th Ave walk

Favorite thing:
This traffic-free downtown walk is an outdoor pedestrian mall, stretching from Stephen Ave Mall (1st St. to 3rd St.), to TD Square and Penny Lane. At night there are bustling clubs, restaurants, and bars. At day this is the favorite hangout for downtown workers during lunch break.

Fondest memory:
This isn't necessarily my fondest memory. But if you are like me, visiting here early Sunday morning before shops are open, you'll see garbage on the streets from yesterday's party and homeless people. No place to shop or dine, except for McDonald's.

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Chinatown

Favorite thing:
Similar to other Chinatowns across north America, Calgary's Chinatown is centrally located in downtown, mostly Cantonese speaking, with lines of restaurants to choose from. Enter one of the small indoor malls to see the more intimate shops that cater to Chinese instead of Westerners.

Fondest memory:
Visit Chinatown Sunday morning to enjoy a Hong Kong style brunch (half western half eastern) while most other restaurants are closed.

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